Low skeletal muscle mass is associated with liver fibrosis in individuals with type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND AND AIM Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and low skeletal muscle mass (SMM) are associated with increased risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, data regarding the association between low SMM and NAFLD-related liver fibrosis in individuals with T2D are scarce. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between low SMM and liver fibrosis in individuals with T2D and NAFLD. METHODS Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) of ≥ 248 dB/m was taken as cutoff suggesting NAFLD. Clinically relevant liver fibrosis and advanced liver fibrosis were defined as liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography (TE) of ≥ 8.0 and ≥ 9.6 kPa, respectively. SMM was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Low SMM was defined as appendicular SMM index of